Asensio could miss NINE months due to terrible injury in left knee (Marca)

Marco Asensio has been left in a state of devastation after falling injured against Arsenal and the forward could be ruled out of action for as long as nine months as a result.

Real Madrid had big plans for the Spaniard in 2019/20 and Zinedine Zidane had been planning to assign either the Spaniard or Vinicius Junior the role of playing on the right of the attack and his injury has come as a huge blow to their plans.

The hospital tests have confirmed the worst with regards to the severity of the problem, with Asensio rupturing his external meniscus.

A number of people have pointed to the turf at the FedExField, which has the highest injury rate in NFL, as being a huge factor behind the injury.

Asensio now won't travel with Madrid to New York, instead staying in Washington along with members of the club's medical staff before returning to Spain. Severely inflamed, the swelling has to reduce before it's safe for him to take such a long flight to return home.

As the operation isn't urgent, it will be carried out in Spain. Cases like this regularly see waits before surgery in order to allow for the swelling to minimise, while the estimated time for the recovery is eight to nine months.

The year that is 2019 has ended for Asensio as far as playing is concerned, and he won't reappear before spring 2020, with optimistic estimates suggesting he'll be back in March or April.

Even after reappearing on the pitch, he'll need time to get back to his physical best, then longer to find his form.

Such is the extent of his problem, his participation at next summer's European Championship is in doubt, should Spain qualify.